Machine for separating the contents of eggs



0a. 22, 1935. G wa 2,013,944

MACEENE FDR TEE -CMEN'IS @F EGGS Filed Unit. 13, 1930 9 sheetsasheet 1 OCt. .22, 1935. I G WE I 2,018,044

I MACHINE FOR SEPARATING THE CONTENTS OF EGGS I Filed Oct. 13, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. WEISS Oct. 22, 1935. I

MACHINE FOR SEPARATING THE CONTENTS OF EGGS Filed Oct. 13, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 22, 1935. G. WEISS I 2,018,044

' MACHINE FOR SEPARATIN-G THE CONTENTS OF EGGS Filed Oct, 13 1950 9 Sheets-Sheh 4 s. WEISS 2,018,044

CHINE FOR SEPARATINQTHE CONTENTS OF EGGS Filed Oct. 13, 1930 9Sheets-Sheet 5 r w r NN v 5 M m L 5 Y Q. El 0 i. r H Hm 6 L WWW a 3 m mw MW R Q Rh Mm, m iv Ma N, J/ I! \h I mw M Q ww E m3 ha w% R Q, n wm mm 3% H 5 Vlpi wlirilti iii; v Pl] fiw w k l M i W QM, N m l mw 1 I ow J 1- m .u 1 R MH FL l I Mm mum x9 NN Wm NN NW a K mfi mw l .l 55. l v 4 HH l l T I..IL. IL.E [I [L 9%. W .mM NW mm, mm RM vb w Y Oct. 22; 1935.

Oct. 22, 1935. ,G. WEISS mourns 'Poa ssmmme THE cpumn'rs OF mes Filed Oct. 13, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 G. wElss MACHINE 01; SEPARATING THE CONTENTS OF E55 9' Sheets-Sheet 7 filed Oct. 13, 1930.

Oct. 22, 1935. 3, 555 I 2,018,044

mcmns FOR SEPARATING THE comsms or was Filed Oct. 13, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 gearge ml s.

e. WEISS CHINE FOR SEPARA TING THE CONTENTS OF B665 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Oct. 13, 1930 lizaazfiz" 660 96 77 2- 15 i Patented Oct. 2?, 1935 I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I MACHINE FOR SEPARATING THE CONTENTS or noes George Weiss, Chicago, Ill. Application October 13, 1930, Serial No. 488,418

20 Claims. (Cl. 146-2) Thisinvention relates' to improvements'in mation of one of the cams for moving the egg holder chines for opening eggs and separating the 0011- into and out of position and of the mechanism for tents thereof, and one of the objects of the inmoving the egg holder in one direction.

vention is to provide improved means for auto- Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 8, of an- 'matically opening the egg, removing the contents 'othcr form of cutter. I

from the shell, separating the contents, and. then Figure 13 is a right hand end elevation of Figejecting the shell from the machine. u

A'further object is to provide in a machine of Figure 14 i a dia ram atic vi w 01' ano her this character improved means for feeding or form of egg lifting and carrying mechanism. delivering the eggs into the machine, Figure 15 is an end elevation of Figure 14. 10

A further object is to provide an improved Figure 16 is a top plan view of a portion of Figholder for the eggs and improved means for cen-' ure 4, a d W Parts brOken away and Parts tering the eggs with respect to the holding means. omitted.

A further object is toprovide improved means T cha is mounted p y Suitable 15 for separating the albumen from the yolk. supp r in base Which y itself be Supported 15 A further object is to provide an improved maby mea s of legs or sup 2L chine of this character which will be of a simple, Projecting a v the as 0 a p i hts 22 of durable and compact construction and effective y desired Configurationand J'ou in the and eiiicient in operation. i uprights is a shaft 23, which constitutes the main To the attainment of these ends and the acs pp n t, th h f receiving its m n 20 complishment of other new and useful objects as from any suitable source, preferably throughthe will appear, the invention consists in the features me Of a P y Suitably Supported of novelty in substantially the construction, comnected with the pul ey to tat therewith is a bination and arrangement of the several parts Which meshes With a 86 6 t t s j 25 hereinafter more fully described and claimed and milled p 11 Stub Shaft Carried by 0 0f e shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating uprights 22. Connected to the gear 26 to rotate this invention, and in which therewith is a gear 28 which in turn meshes with a Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine of this gear 29 carried by a shaft 30, the latter being character constructed in accordance with the journaled in'the p ghts 22, the gears 25, 28

30 principles of this invention. and 29 being located on one side of the machine. 30

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1, with The shaft 30 constitutes a time shaft for the parts broken away, partsin horizontal section and operating mechanism, and secured to the shaft 30 with parts omitted. Y on the opposite side of ,the machine is the driv- Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3, ing element 3| of a Geneva movement, this driving element being provided with'a lateral projeci 35 Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line tion 32 preferably in the form of a-roller, and the 4-4, Figure 1. element 3| co-operates with the other Geneva ele- Figure 5 is a sectional view as taken on line ment 33, the latter being provided with openings Figure a 34 into wh ch the roller or projection 32 enters for Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6,, the purpose of imparting an intermittent rotation Figure to the element 33 and also the shaft 23.

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on line 'I Encompassing the shaft 23 at each end thereof Figure are sleeves 35 which are journaled in the uprights Figure '7 is a detail sectional view of the egg 22 and form the bearings for the shaft 23, the lifting means, with parts omitted. shaft and sleeves being rotatable with respect to 45 Figure 8 is a. side elevation of a portion of the each other. machine, with parts broken away, showing one Connected with the shaft 23 are laterally spaced form of cutter, for cutting the egg shells. members 36 of any desired diameter and con- Figure 9 is a view partly in right hand e levafiguration, but are preferably of a drum like tion and partly in section of Figure 8. formation having a series of openings 31 ex- 50 Figure 10 is a view as taken on line Iii-40, Figtending transversely therethrough adjacent the ure 2, with parts omitted. periphery thereof, 'and any number of openings Figure 10 is a detail top plan view of a portion 31 may be Provided, c di to the number of the cam showing the extremities of the cam. of steps of operation which it is desired to em- Figure 11 is a detail perspective view of a porploy in receiving and advancing the eggs to the members 35 to be advanced to the second station,

where the shell is cut.

The egg is then advanced to the third station where the parts of the shell are separated so as to empty the contents of the egg and the emptied shells are then advanced to the fourth station, where they are ejected.

The eggs are received between the members 36 and held by suitable holders, and as the construction and operation of each of the holders is the same, the description of one willapply equally as well to them all.

Each of the holders embodies cO-Qperating parts of similar construction and the holders are carried by the respective members 36.

Loosely mounted in the opening 31 and for free rotation is a member 38 which is preferably provided with a recessed portion 39 opening through one end thereof, and within this recessed portion and extending therearound adjacent the wall of the recess, is a ring 40 constructed of any suitable flexible .and resilient material, preferably rubber or the like. A portion of the ring 40 projects beyond the end of the member 38, for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

Connected with the member 38 is a stemor projection 41 which is of an external diameter considerably less than the external diameter of the member 38, and this projection ll has secured to it agear 42,- the latter being provided with a reduced portion 43 journaled in a bearing member 34, which latter is held within the opening 31 by means of a fastening screw 45.

A collar 46 which co-operates with the shoulder formed by the reduced portion 33 is arranged on the side of the bearing member ll opposite the f side on which the gear teeth 42 are arranged so as to hold the gear 33 against displacement. The gear 43 is secured to the projection 4| such as by means of a key 41 and the gear 43 (see particularly Figure ,5) meshes with a gear 48 which is secured to the sleeve 35 for rotation 'therewith so that when the sleeve 35 is rotated,

a rotary motion will be imparted to the holder and to the ring 40 about their axes and independently with respect to the rotation of the members 36 about their axes or with the shaft 33.

As the shaft 23 is rotated, the members 35 will rotate and will bodily rotate the egg holders about the axis of the shaft 23 while the gear 48 will rotate the holders with respect to the members 36.

The gears 48 are rotated through the medium of gears 49 that are secured to the sleeve 35 as at 50 for rotation" therewith and these gears 43' in turn mesh with the gear 23 (see particularly I .in a manner that the ends of the eggs will project into the rings loto be frictionally grippetk thereby, the insertion of the ends of the eggs into the rings causing the outer edge of the rings to be deflected, as shown.

A centering device is provided for centering the eggs with respect to the holders, and this centering device'consists preferably of a conically shaped member 5! which is provided with a reduced portion 52 adapted to slide in the reduced portion ll of the holder, and which latter is hollow. A stem 53 is connected to the centering head if and projects beyond the portion ll of the holder, being preferably provided with a head 34 to prevent displacement thereof.

Encompassing the stem 53 and within the element 4! is a spring 55 which tends normally to move the centering device forwardly toward the openend of the ring 40, and the stress of the spring 53 is such that it will cause the centering device 5.! to engage the end of the egg with only sufii'cient pressure to assist in supporting the egg and at the same time properly locating the same. I

When the egg is first presentedto the holders the centering member will be moved to the D sition. shown in Figure 5, but after the egg shell has been severed and the contents emptied therefrom, the centering member ill will be moved forwardly by means of a cam 36. arranged within the path of movement of the head 54 on the stem 55 and at the proper station in the cycle of operation ,of the machine.

The egg holders are moved forwardly and backwardly in directions parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shaft 23 during therotation of the shaft so as to grip the egg and hold the same while it is being advanced tothe cutting station,

then subsequently the holders are separated sumcontents discharged, the shells are then advanced 1 to the. electing station, at which time the end'of the stem 33 will engage the cam 36 so as to force the centering member 3| forwardly, and the latter will then act as an ejector for electing the shell from the ring 43 in the holder. I

During the rotation of the members 33,;the egg 5o holders embodying the member 33 and ring 43 are advanced towards and away from each other. also in directionsparallel with the axis of. the shaft 23 so as to cause the holders to close upon the ends ofthe egg and then to be separated so as to separate the shells.

This is accomplishedby means of a cam 31 (see particularly Figures 2. 5 and 11) which is suitably supported and is provided with an offset portion 58 at the ends of the cam so as to permit 00 the holders to be moved forwardly without interference.

This is accomplished preferably in the follow-' ing manner. The extremity of the extension 3| of the holder is reduced as at 59 and a pulley 63 65 n is journaled upon the reduced portion, being held in position by means of a suitable collar St. The 3 groove of the pulley 60 receives the active edge of the cam 51 so that as the members 36 are rotated, the pulleys 60 will travel upon the cam 5'! andthe cam is so arranged as to gradually move the egg holders toward each other to grip the egg,

then maintain" the holders against movement while the egg is being cut, and then separate-the egg shells so as to discharge the contents therefrom.

After the egg holders have been separated to the fullest extent, and at the time the egg is being presented to the holders, the holders are moved forwardly from the rear end of the cam 51 to the .front end and in a direction lengthwise of the axis of the shaft 23. This is accomplished in any suitable manner, but preferably by meansof a member 62 which is mounted to slide upon a bracket or guide 63 suitably located. The

member 62 may be provided with spaced projections 64 depending therefrom between which a cam 65 projects. The cam 65 is keyed to the sleeve 35 by means of a suitable key 66 so that when the sleeve 35 is rotated the cam 65 will be correspondingly rotated. The cam is so arrangedthat just at the time that the egg is presented between the holders, the members 62 will move forwardly to theposition shown in Figure 2, to engage the end of the extension I of the holder 38 and thereby move it together with the centering member 5i, bodily forward toward the egg, and this occurs at the time that the pulley 60 is being moved laterally from the rear end to the front end of the cam 51, so as to position the groove in the pulley Bil to receive the front end of the cam 51..

- Obviously, and as before stated, one of these entire mechanisms is arranged on each side of the machine.

The eggs are fed to the machine in any suitable manner, preferablyv from a conveyor 61, which may be so arranged as to supply eggs for a series of machines. Arranged adjacent the path of movement of the conveyor 61 and at a position between two cooperating holders are brackets 68 which are spaced laterally from each other, and these brackets are provided with a seat 69 for receiving the eggs I0.

Suitably supported and arranged parallel with the shaft 23 is a shaft 'Il which'is fixed against rotation preferably by means of a suitable fastening device i2. Secured to the shaft Ii is a gear wheel 13, and this gear wheel is arranged between two sleeves I4, which are telescoped upon the shaft Ii, the proximate ends of the sleeve terminating in close proximity to the gear is. One of the sleeves I4 has a bearing in the framework and extends therethrough, and secured to the projecting end of the sleeve I4 is a gear wheel I5 secured to the sleeve for rotation therewith, preferably by means of a set screw it. The gear 35 meshes with a gear 'I'I (see also Figure 2) which in turn meshes with a gear T8, the latter being secured to the Geneva element 33 for rotation therewith, so that upon every step of rotation of the shaft 23, the gear I5 will be given one step of rotation, and this in turn will rotate the sleeves I8.

Secured to the sleeves I4 are spaced members forming a support i9 having a hub 80, and be= tween these members I9 .the gear I8 is located. Rotata-bly mounted between the members 19 for bodily rotation therewith and with respect thereto, are gears 88 which mesh with the gear I3 and also rotatably mounted between the members i9 and meshing respectively with the gears 8|, are

' station between the egg holders.

. 3 The gears I3, 8| and 82 form a planetary gear movement, and as the cup shaped lifting members 83 are connected with the axes of the gears 82 and as the gear I3 is maintained stationary,

support 19 together with a bodily rotation of the gearstll and 82 about the gear I3, the cup shaped members 83 will be always maintained in an upright position as shown in Figure 3, in every position of rotation of the cup shaped lifting 10 members 83 about the shaft 'Il.

As the support I9 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 3, the lifting members 83 will lift onev of the eggs I0 (see particularly Figure 3) from the support 68, and carry 15 the egg in the direction and in the path indicated by the dotted line in Figure 3, to the receiving At this time the holders at the receiving station will be separated to their fullest,extent so as to permit the egg to 20 be positioned between the holders. This operation occurs upon one intermittent step of the shaft 23. During the interval'of rest of the shaft, the sleeves 35 will be rotated, causing the cams 65 'to rotate and these cams will cause the member 25 62 to be moved forwardly so as to engage the end of the holders and move them in directions towards each other to grip the egg by its ends while it is being held upon the lifting members 83. Upon the next step of rotation of the shaft 28, 30 the egg thus gripped will be advanced to the cutting station where it will be cut by a rotating cutter M and from there will be advanced upon the third step of rotation to the discharging station to be advanced upon the next step of rotation 35 to the station at which the egg shells are ejected, in the manner already described The lifting members 83 are maintained in a fixed relation with respect to the holders and it will be seen that in order to make-one complete (0 cycle of revolution of the shaft 23, four steps of intermittent movement are imparted thereto, while in order to make a complete cycle of rotation of the support I9 upon which the lifting members 83 are located, three steps only are 45 necessary. Therefore, this ratio of difference between the two is compensated for by the proper gear connections.

Should it be desired to change the fixed relation of the lifting members 83 with respect to the 50 holding members, the set screw I3 (see Figure 7) may be loosened and the support I9 may then be turned forwardly or backwardly to the desired extent, after which the set screw I6 may again be tightened. 55

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 14, another form of lifting member is disclosed, wherein the planetary gear construction is omitted, and the lifting members are maintained always in an upright position with respect to 60 the rotatable support I9 by gravity. This is aceomplished preferably by providing the members 35 with weighted portions 86, so as to maintain the lifting members uprightly, causing them to swing about the pivots or axes 81, as the member I9 is rotated. In this form of the invention the support I9 consists of a single disc and the. members 85 are formed in pairs, arranged on opposite sides of the disc I9 and connected by means 70 of a shaft 88. i

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1,3 and 4, the cutter 84 is arranged within a' housing 89 which is supported by means of arms pivotally mounted as at 9|, and connected with 76 means of which any dust created in the casing 89 by the cutting of the egg shell may be conveyed away.

The cutter is preferably operated from a high speed motor 99, suitably mounted, to the shaft of which motor is connected a pulley I00, over which a belt IOI passes. The belt IOI also passes over a pulley I02, which is connected with a pulley I03 for rotation therewith. A belt I04 passes over the pulley I03 and also over apulley I05, which latter is secured to a shaft I06 upon which the cutter 84 is mounted.

In the form of theinvention shown in Figure 8, the cutter 84 is mounted upon an arm I01, the latter preferably being slightly resilient and is secured to 3. rock shaft I08 journaled in a suitable bearing I09. An arm H is also secured to the shaft I08 andprojects into the path of the rotary movement of a double cam shaped member III. end to the bearing I09 and is secured to the shaft I08 for adjustment about the shaft by means a of a collar H3 and a fastening device II4, by means of which the tension of the spring II2 may be provided.

This spring operates to normally move the cutter 84 bodily in a direction to contact with the egg and also to hold the arm H0 in the path of movement of the cam shaped member III. A cushion device H is provided as a stop to be engaged by the arm H0, and the cushion device is adjustable by an adjusting screw H6.

The cam shaped member III is rotated by means of the gear 49 meshing with a gear II1 which is secured to the cam shaped member.

From an inspection of Figure 8 of the drawings, it will be seen that upon each two complete revolutions of the egg 10, the cutter will be moved toward and'away from the egg so as to contact therewith and .cut the shell in the manner as shown by the numbers I to I in Figure 8.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 12, the cutter 84 is mounted in the same manner as shown in Figure 8, with the exception that the arm IIO engages a cushioning device I I8 that is carried by another arm II9, the latter being pivotally mounted as at I28. The extremity I2I of the arm -I I9 cooperates with a rotating member I22, having teeth I23 and an extended smooth portion I24 about its periphery, so that as the member I22 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow, the arm I I 9 will be successively engaged by the teeth I23 to raise the cutter away from the egg 10, but when the end I2I of the arm II8 passes oif'of the respective teeth the cutter A spring II2 is anchored by one during which time the egg holders and carrier will be advanced.

After the shell has been cut and the cut portions separated, the entire contents of the shell will be deposited into a separating machine, 5

which latter preferably consists (see particularly Figures 3 and 4) of a series of receiving cups I25 of a size to receive the entire contents of the egg shell and also of a size that the albumen will run over the edge of the cup to be discharged into a trough shaped member I26.

The receiving cups I25 are rotatably supported by a member I 21 through the medium of shafts I28 secured to the receiving cups I25 and are detachably secured to the member I21 by fastening devices I28 entering grooves I30 in the shaft so that by forcibly straining the shafts I 28 length wise of their axes in one direction, the receiving cups I25 may be detached.

The member I21 is connected to a shaft I3I for rotation therewith and secured to each of the shafts I28 is a gear I32, which mesh with teeth I33 on a member I34, and these teeth I33'are arranged adjacent a portion only. of the path of movement of the gears I32. Secured also to the shafts I28 are discs I35 having flattened portions I36 (see particularly Figure l) and the flattened portions I36 co-operate with a flange I31 on the member I34 to lock the shafts I28 and the receiving cups I25 against axial rotation during a portion of the rotation of the member I21. when the gears I32 mesh with the teeth I33 the'flattened portions I36 of the (E505 I will be oppo- 1 site a cut away portion I38 (see Figure 6) of the member I34, which will permit the shafts I28 to 35 be rotated to dump the receiving'cups I25 to discharge the contents thereof into the trough I26.

The trough I26 is provided with partitions I39--I40 so arranged with respect to the rotation 40 of the member I21 and the receiving cups I25 that the albumen will be delivered into the trough shaped member I26 during a portion of the rotation of the member I21 on one side of the parti-. tions, while the yokes will be delivered from the receiving cups I25 on the other side of the partit-ions, to be respectively discharged through outlets I4I-I42. i

The shaft I3I may be rotated in any desired or suitable manner, and is given an intermittent rotation preferably by means of a Geneva movement consisting of a'star or driven wheel I43 (see-particularly Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4) which is secured to a shaft I44 arranged parallel with the shaft 23. To the shaft I44 is secured a gear I45 which'meshes with a gear I46 that is secured to the shaft I3I and to which shaft I3I the member I21 is secured.

The Geneva element I43 is actuated by a driving element I41, having a pin I48 that enters the slots I49 in the Geneva element I43.

The member I 41 is preferably secured to one of the gears 29, which is shaped to form a locking portion I50, as'shown more clearly in Figure l. Thus when the gear 29 is rotated, an intermittent rotation will be imparted to the member I21 with the receiving cups I25 supported thereby.

As a means for assisting in separating the albumen from the yolks of the eggs when they are deposited in the receiving cups I25, a substantially conical shaped stripper III is provided and is connected with a vertically reciprocating shaft I52 slidable in suitable bearings I53. Telescoped upon the shaft I52 is a sleeve I64, which slides in the bearings I53, and interposed between the end of the sleeve I54 and the stripper I5I is a spring I55 and the sleeve I-54 is of a length considerably less than the length of the shaft I52, lock nuts I56 being provided on the free end of the shaft I52.

Connected to the sleeve I54 is a link I51, and this link is connected by one end with a crank I58 secured to a shaft I59 rotatable in suitable bearings. Secured also to theshaft I59 is a sprocket wheel I66, and over this sprocket wheel I60 passes an endless flexible belt or drive member I6 I preferably in the form of a sprocket chain that also passes over a sprocket wheel I62 secured to the shaft 30 for rotation therewith, so that as the shaft 30 is rotated, the shaft I59 will be rotated and a vertical reciprocatory movement will be imparted to the stripper member I 5 I.

The stripper member I5I has a fixed station, while the member I21 is intermittently rotated so as to successively bring the receiving cups I25 into a position to be operated upon by the stripper I5I, and this is-accomplished by the intermittent rotation of the member I21.

When the receiving cup I25 with its contents is positioned beneath the stripper I5I the latter will operate to assist in separating the albumen parted to the member I21 to present another receiving cup I25 beneath the stripper I5I.

After the albumen has been separated from the yolk and when the member I21 has rotated a sufiicient distance to cause the teeth I33 to engage the gears I32 to rotate the latter, the receiving cups I25 will be inverted (see particularly Figure 1) so as to dump the yolk therefrom into the trough shaped member on the opposite side of the partitions, thereby separating the albumen and yolk.

After the contents-of the eggs have been discharged from the shell, and when the egg shells have been advanced to the discharging station they will be ejected from the holders to fall upon an incline or chute I63 to be delivered from the machine, as shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 3.

The troughs. I26 may be removably held in position in any suitable manner, but preferably by means of a bar or rod I64, which is pivotally mounted by one end as at I 65 and detachably secured to a part of the frame structure by its other end as at I66. This bar or rod passes under the support I61 for the trough M6, and the end of the shaft I3I is loosely journaled in a bearing I68 of the support I61, so that by dropping the rod I64 the support 461 may be readily removed. It is thoughtthat the operation of this machine will be clearly understood from the foregoing, but briefly stated it isv as follows, reference being had particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3. c

' The eggs are supplied by the conveyor 61 and are lifted by the operator separately and placed upon the brackets 68. Upon the first intermit tent step of rotation of the shaft 23, the support 19 will be rotated to cause the lifting members 63 to lift the egg from the bracket 68 and move it in the path of movement indicated by thev arrow in Figure 3, to present it between cooperating holders on the intermittently rotatable members 36. At this time in the cycle of operation of the machine, the cam 65 will move the member 62 forwardly so as to close the hold-. ers upon the ends of the egg and cause the elastic rings 40 to frictionally grip the egg at its end the centering member 5| operating to contact with the end of the egg and center it in the holder. This will occur at the time when one pair of holders is adjacent theoffset portion 5 at the ends of the cam 57 (see also Figure 11). The cam 51 will then, as the supports 36 are rotated, cause the co-operating holders to close further upon the egg to frictionally grip the same and the holders will be held in this posi- 10 tion by the cams during the time that the egg is advanced from the receiving to the cutting station. At this point the cutter 64 will operate upon the egg shell to sever it. Upon the next step of advancing movement of the shaft 23 and 15 members 36; the out egg will be advanced to the discharge station, and as it approaches the discharging station the cams 51 will separate the parts of the egg shells to permit the contents of the egg to be entirely discharged therefrom 20 into one of the receiving separating cups I25. Upon another step of advancing movement, the egg shells will be moved to the electing station. at which time the cams 56 operate upon the centering members 5| and cause them to eject 25 the shells. I v After the contents of the eggs have been deposited into one of the separating cups I25, the

. albumen will run over the edge of the cup into one portion of the receiving trough I26, and 50 the support I21 carrying the receiving separate ing cups will be advanced until they are successively brought into a position to be operated by the stripper I5I. At this time the stripper I5I will be lowered as shown in Figure 4, to assist 35 in separating-the albumen from the yolk. The stripper will then be raised and at this time another step of rotary motion will be imparted to the member l21. At the proper time the receiving cups 025 holding the yolk from which the 0 albumen has been separated, will then be inverted and the yolk will be delivered into the receiving trough on the other side of the partition.

The cams 65 operate to move the members 62 5 ,forwardly at the proper time in the cycle of operation of the machine and they also operate to withdraw the members 62 to position them with respect to the next pair of holders to engage the stems or portions 4| thereof, to advance 50 the latter.

If desired and as a means for insuring the proper positioning of the separating cups I25 with respect to the stripper I5I, a spring con trolled fastening device I69 may be provided, 55 which is adapted to enter openings I10 in the member I21.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made so in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is: u

1. In a machine for opening eggs to remove the contents thereof, a carrier for the eggs. means for advancing the carrier, means for holding the eggs upon the carrier, means for actuating the last said means, means for posi- 1o tioning the eggs to be engaged by said holding means, thesaid positioning means embodying a rotatable support, a plurality of egg receivers mounted upon said support for bodily rotation therewith and for pivotal movement with re- '5 spect thereto, means for maintaining, said receivers against being inverted while bodily rotating with said support, and means for rotating the support;

2. In a machine for opening eggs to remove the contents thereof, a carrier for the eggs,

means for advancing the carrier, means for holding the eggs upon the carrier, means for actuating the last said means, means for positioning the eggs to'be engaged by said holding means, the said positioning means embodying ,a rotatable support, a plurality of egg receivers mounted upon said support for bodily rotation therewith and for pivotal movement with respect thereto, means embodying planetary gear mech-' anism for maintaining said receivers against being inverted while bodily rotating with said support, and means for rotating the support.

3. In a machine for opening eggs to remove the contents thereof, a carrier for the eggs, means for advancing the carrier, a stationary holder for the eggs, means between said holder and said carrier for lifting the egg from the former and delivering it to the latter, the last saidmeans embodying a rotatable support, cup shaped members pivotally mounted upon said support and bodily rotatable with the support and about the axis of the latter, and means for maintaining said cup shapedmembers against being inverted while being bodily rotated about the axis of the support.

4. In a machine for opening eggs to remove the contents thereof, a carrier for the eggs, means for advancing the carrier, a stationary holder for the eggs, means between said holder and said carrier for lifting the egg from the former and delivering it 'to the latter, the last said means embodying a rotatable support, cup

shaped members pivotally mounted upon saidsupport and bodily rotatable with the support v and about the axis of the latter, and a planetary gear connection between the axis of said support and each of said cup shaped membersdor maintaining the latter against being inverted during their bodily rotation about said axis.

5. In a machine for opening eggs to remove the contents thereof, a. carrier for the eggs, means for advancing the carrier, a stationary I holder for the eggs, means between said holder and said carrier for lifting the egg from the for mer and delivering it to the latter, the last said means embodying a rotatable support, cup shaped members pivotally mounted upon said support and bodily rotatable with the support and about the axis of the latter, and a planetary gear mechanism between the axis of said support and the members connected with the support for bodily.

movement with the support about theaxis of the latter and for pivotal movement with respect to the support, said members embodying laterally spaced portions between which the said stationary support passes as said members are advanced, and means for maintaining said cup shaped members against being inverted about their pivots as they are bodily advanced with the support. i

7. In a machine for opening eggs to remove the contents thereof, a carrier for the 6885. means for advancing the carrier, a stationary holder for the eggs, means disposed between said carrier and said holder for lifting the egg from the latter and delivering it to the former, the

,last said means embodying a rotatable support,

cup shaped members connected with the sup- 10 port for bodily movement with the support about the axis of the latter'and for pivotal movement with respect to the support, said members embodying laterally spaced portions between which the said stationary support passes as said mem- 5 bers are advanced, and means embodying planetary gear mechanism between the axis of said rotatable support and each of the pivots of said cup shaped members for maintaining the Latter against being inverted during their bodilygg movement about the axis of said support.

8. A machine of the character described embodying a holder for the eggs, said holder embodying a ring of resilient material into which the end of the egg is adapted to be inserted to 5 be frictionally and circumferentially gripped thereby only in a zone spaced from the ends of the egg, 9. support for said ring, and a centering member for centering the egg with respect to said ring. so I 9. A machine of the character described embodying a. holder for the eggs, said holder embodying a ring of resilient material into which the end '01 the egg is adapted to be inserted to be frictionally and circumferentially gripped 35 thereby only in a zone spaced from the ends of the egg, 9. support for said ring, and a resiliently yielding centering member for-centering the eggwith respect to said ring.

10. A machine of the character described em: 0 bodying a holder for the eggs,'said holder embodying a ring of resilient material into which the end of the egg is adapted to be inserted to be frictionally and circumferentially gripped thereby only in a zone spaced fromthe ends of the egg, a support for said ring, a centering member'for centering the egg with respect to said ring, and means for causing said centering memher to eject the shell at a predetermined time in the cycle of operation oi the machine.

11. A machine 01. the, character described'embodying a holder ,for the eggs, said holder embodying a ring of resilient material into which the end of the egg is adapted to be inserted to be frictionally and circumferentially gripped thereby only in a zone spaced from the ends of the egg, a support for said ring, a centering member within said ring for centering the egg with respect thereto, said centering member embodying a cup shaped portion for receiving the end of the egg.

12. In a machine of the character described. a carrier for the eggs, means for advancing the .carrier, a rotary cutter for cutting the shell,

means mounting the cutter forbodily movements 55 towards and away from the egg, means mr imparting such bodily movement to the cutter, the last said means embodying a rotatable toothed member, an arm connected with said cutter and co-operating with the teeth of said member, and 7 means for imparting a high speed of rotation to the cutter.

13. In a machine of the character described, a carrier, holders on the carrier for the articles to be operated upon, means for advancing the carrier, a stationary holder for the articles, and means intermediate the carrier and the said stationary holder for delivering the articles from the latter to the former, the last said means embodying a rotatable support, lifting members mounted on the support for bodily movement therewith and for pivotal movement with respect there to and independently with respect to each other, said lifting members operating to deliver the articles from the stationary holder to the said holders on the carrier, said lifting members maintaining a fixed relation to the holders on the carrier, and means whereby the fixed position of the said lifting members with respect to the holders on said carrier may be varied at will;

14. In a machine of the character described, a carrier, holders on the carrier for the articles to be operated upon, means for advancing the carrier, a stationary holder for the articles, means intermediate the carrier and the said stationary holder for delivering the articles from the latter to the former, the last said means embodying a rotatable support, lifting members mounted on the support for bodily movement therewith and for pivotal movement with respect thereto, said lifting members operating to deliver the articles from the stationary holder to the said holders on the carrier, said lifting members maintaining a fixed relation to the holders on the carrier, means whereby the fixed position of the said lifting members with respect to the holders on said carrier may be varied at will, and means for maintaining said lifting members against being inverted by movement about their pivots during the bodily rotation of the lifting members about the axis of said support.

15. In a machine for opening eggs to remove the contents thereof, a carrier for the eggs, means for advancing the carrier, means for holding the eggs upon the carrier, means for actuating the last said means, means for positioning the eggs to be engaged by said holding means, the said positioning means embodying a rotatable support, a plurality of egg receivers mounted upon said support for bodily rotation therewith and for pivotal movement with respect thereto, means for maintaining said receivers against being inverted while bodily rotating with said support, and means for rotating the support.

16. In a machine for opening eggs to remove the contents thereof, a carrier for the eggs, means foradvancing the carrier, a stationaryholder for the e gs, means between the said holder and said carrier for lifting the egg from the formeriand delivering it to the latter, the last said means embodying a rotatable support, cup shaped members pivotally mounted upon said support and bodily rotatable with the support and about the axis of the latter, and a connection between the axis of said support and each of said cup shaped members for maintaining the latter against being inverted during their bodily rotation about said axis.

17. In a machine for opening eggs to remove the contents thereof, a carrier for the eggs, means for advancing the carrier, a stationary holder for the eggs, means between said holder and said carrier for lifting the egg from the former and delivering it to the latter, the last said means embodying a rotatable support, cup shaped members 10 pivotally mounted upon said support and bodily rotatable with the support and about the axis of the latter, and means between the axis of said support and the pivot of each of said cup shaped members operating to maintain the cup shaped members uprightly during their bodily rotation about the axis of the support.

18. In a machine for opening eggs to remove the contents thereof, a carrier for the eggs, means for advancing the carrier, a stationary holder for the eggs, means disposed between the carrier and said holder for lifting the egg from the former and delivering it to the latter, the last said means embodying a rotatable support, cup shaped members connected with the support for bodily movement with the support about the axis of the latter and for pivotal movement with respect to the support, said means embodying laterally spaced portions between which the said stationary support passes as the said members are advanced, and means between the axis of said rotatable support and each of the pivots of said cup shaped members for maintaining the latter against being inverted during their bodily movement about the axis of said support.

19. In a machine for opening eggs to remove the contents thereof, a carrier for the eggs, egg' holding means on the carrier, means for advancing the carrier, means for receiving and presenting the eggs to the said carrier, the last said means 0 embodying a rotatable support provided with seats for receiving the eggs, said seats being movable with and with respect to the support, and means for rotating the said support to present the eggs to the said holding means.

20. In a machine for opening eggs to remove the contents thereof, a carrier for the eggs. egg holding means on the carrier, means foradvancing the carrier, means for receiving and presenting the eggs to the said carrier. the last said means embodying a' rotatable support provided with seats for receiving the eggs, and means for rotating the said support to present the eggs to the said holding means, the said seats embodying elements connected with the third recited means for bodily movement therewith and for pivotal movement with respect thereto.

GEORGE WEISS. 

